home selling | Lake of the Woods Real Estate Blog

Even though it’s a cliché, first impressions matter a lot in real estate. Yes, some purchasers may require a few days to mull it over. But, for the most part, buyers are smitten with a house the minute they pull up to its driveway and see it for themselves. Appraisers will also value your home mostly by the first look. So, you’ll definitely want the landscape to look great. Also, according to statistics, now could be the best time to sell – and you’d want to do it for top dollar. So, here are some curb appeal ideas to add value to your home.

1# Make it sophisticated

When it comes to house sales, properties with elaborate landscaping—such as curving bed lines and huge island plants—tend to get a higher price tag, according to real estate stats. The landscapes with huge deciduous, evergreen and annual color plants sold better than those without these types of plant materials. Planting beds, according to experts at orangemover.com, are an affordable and low-lift option to add aesthetic interest, texture, and color. You may use them to make your lawn seem fuller even when the grass is well cut and trimmed.

2# Make it green

You can’t go wrong if you have trees in your yard. In addition to providing shade and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, trees will add value to your exterior. Trees also have a way of making a house seem more like home. They provide a feeling of continuity between a home and its surroundings as well as a connection between the people who live there and their surroundings. The best way to choose a tree is to think about the function it will serve. Deciduous trees are a good pick if you want additional shade in the summertime. When the trees lose their leaves in the winter, they allow some light into your yard. In addition, they may possibly save you money on your utility bills!

A big tree in a yard is one of the best curb appeal ideas to add value to your home. — A big tree will provide not only you shade but also privacy on hot summer days

3# Rock your exterior design with some rocks

Adding a low-maintenance focal point to your yard is easy with a beautiful rock bed. Tossing random rocks, on the other hand, is a bad idea. If you want a traditional “rock” aesthetic but don’t want to shell out hundreds of dollars for a 400-square-foot area, consider using decomposed granite or trap rock. Also, avoid using limestone since it decomposes fast and turns into debris. If you decide on bigger individual stones, seek smooth and spherical ones. These will endure longer and generate less unpleasant, gritty rock-garden waste that weeds enjoy.

4# Fiberglass doors are one of the best curb appeal ideas to add value to your home

When it comes time to put your house on the market, a fiberglass front door might help you recuperate some of your investment. There are also other advantages. They’re more energy-efficient than traditional wooden front doors, just like steel ones. In contrast, steel doors are prone to rust and corrosion over time and will not look good, no matter how good your home staging is. With fiberglass, you won’t have to worry about unattractive dents and corrosion.

5# Decking made of composite material is a big yes

Wooden decks are beautiful, but maintaining their waterproof qualities demands a lot of time and effort. Composite decking, on the other hand, has a long warranty. It requires no sealing, staining, replacement of rotting boards, or danger of termites, extending the life of the deck and saving you thousands of dollars over the course of its existence. Composite decking comes in three varieties:

Polyethylene-based
Polypropylene ones
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

6# Make sure your landscape reflects the design of your house

How can you get the most out of your landscaping dollars? It’s about making sure your landscaping truly compliments your home’s design. Craftsman-style homes should be given basic and traditional landscaping, such as a bed of vividly colored flowers or well-structured shrubs. If you want your house to be called a breathtaking home in the market, modern additions like koi ponds and lavish fountains that appear as if they belong in Caesar’s Palace should be avoided at all costs.

A white-bricked house. — Sometimes, just a bed of vividly colored flowers makes all the magic.

7# Make your front yard look simple yet trendy

We’ve already mentioned the importance of greenery in the presentation. But, we picked up a few more sneaky tricks from professional movers. It is important to keep up with trends in order to boost your home value, and the trend right now dictates that ‘less is more. What does that actually mean in terms of front yard remodeling? It is important to add some greenery to your presentation, but it’s also important to pick only a few different kinds that will look good together. The other key to success is to pick wisely and choose the kinds of plants that don’t need too much maintenance. That way, you’ll save money and make trendy and harmonious curb appeal.

8# Light it up—but functionally

As a reward for your efforts, ensure you can always see the results of your hard work. Landscape lighting will draw attention to your home’s architectural elements and most eye-catching vegetation. In addition, the project is very cost-effective and easy to implement. Also, who doesn’t like a good and functional light show in their yard? Smart lighting will surely add to your home’s value. If you really want to go all-in, you can make adjustable lighting that will be able to tone it down and allow a buyer to enjoy star gazing under Virginia’s sky.

Light bulbs and plants. — If you put some creativity in, you can make an exceptional exterior design with simple light bulbs.

Bottom line

So, there you have it—a ticket to a better home sale. If you apply at least two of these curb appeal ideas to add value to your home, you’ll be on a great path to a good deal. Even if some of these are inapplicable to your situation, be smart and adjust. The most important thing is to think like a buyer. When you see all the flaws clearly, you can focus on fixing them. Just then, there will be a great reward in money return.

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Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.

To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.

The state of real estate and inflation

As inflation soars to near 40-year highs and raises the cost of everything, many are looking for innovative ways to secure their assets against inflationary losses. Additionally, given the housing market’s recent volatility (primarily driven by historic low levels of housing inventory that have caused an imbalance between supply and demand), it’s understandable that many might consider real estate to be a wrong or risky move right now. But the great news is that nothing could be further from the truth. Let’s explore how and why buying or selling a home can safeguard you against inflation.

The housing market can protect you from inflation

Image of homes and a graph representing housing market and inflation.

Real estate remains a stable area for investment and profit realization because a home’s value does not increase in relation to currency; it increases based on demand. So if you’ve been holding back from buying because of today’s market pressures, consider that inflation is up even more than mortgage interest rates, making it a smart move. Similarly, if you’re considering selling, the demand for housing has never been greater, which is terrific news for anyone looking to cash out their equity to hedge against inflation.

Buying a home: by the numbers

Let’s take a look at some numbers. Experts estimate that Americans face an annualized inflation rate of around 15%. Considering that, the current 5% mortgage rate is a bargain for homebuyers in the short term. Moreover, you’re securing an asset that, over time, will increase. And, as you pay down your mortgage, even at 5%, your equity will continue to grow.

Selling a home: by the numbers

Senior Adult Couple in Front of Sold Home For Sale Real Estate Sign and Beautiful House.

It’s no secret to homeowners that their home equity values have grown over the last couple of years. According to research firm Black Knight, at the end of 2021, Americans were sitting on record-high home equity levels of approximately $9.9 million. So if you’ve noticed homes in your neighborhood selling above their listing price and you’ve been on the fence about selling yourself, now may be a good time to cash in on this opportunity.

Both buyers and sellers can make tremendous gains

Happy family with children moving with boxes in a new house.

In a hot housing market where home inventory is low, competition is fierce, and home equity values are at all-time highs, buyers and sellers can start to feel overwhelmed. But don’t despair: an increase in mortgage rates isn’t stopping homes from selling quickly, nor is it preventing home equities from appreciating. For example, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), properties remained on the market for just 17 days in March, with many going for over the asking price!

With more buyers than sellers today, current homeowners looking to sell to fight inflation have the advantage of likely bidding wars, resulting in greater profits and fast-moving homes that don’t stay on the market for very long. For those looking towards homeownership to protect their assets against inflation, reassurance comes from knowing that demand is expected to outpace supply for the foreseeable future, meaning that home equities will continue to rise. And if inflation continues, fixed-rate interest rates will drop again, creating the perfect opportunity to refinance your loan.

Get Ready to Make Your Move

The first step to buying and selling is crunching the numbers. Our team will help you find the real, up-to-the-minute value of your home using the latest microdata and neighborhood trends. Then, we’ll work with you to figure out the best strategy to shelter your investments and assets from inflation. Contact us today!

Category Archives: home selling

8 Curb Appeal Ideas to Add Value to Your Home